Locking device for umbrellas.



'No. 766,678. PATENTED AUG. 2, 1904. E. EKM'AN & N. H. G. PIHL.

LOOKING DEVICE FOR UMBRBLLAS.

APPLICATION FILED JAN. 28, 1904.

N0 MODEL.

UNITED STATES Patented August 2, 1904.

PATENT ()FEIcE.

EDWVARD EKMAN AND NILS H. C. PIHL, OF MINNEAPOLIS, MINNESOTA.

LOCKING DEVICE FOR UMBRELLAS.

SPECIFICATION forming part of Letters Patent No. 766,678, dated August 2, 1904.

Application filed January 28, 1904. Serial No. 190,951. (No model.)

To all whom it may concern.-

Be it known that we, EDWARD EKMAN and NILs H. C. PIHL, of Minneapolis, Hennepin county, Minnesota, have invented certain new and useful Improvements in Locking Devices for Umbrellas, of which the following is a specification.

()ur invention relates to a lock adapted to be permanently attached to the stick or rod of an umbrella; and the object of our invention is to provide means for preventing an umbrella from being opened by any one ex cept the owner or some one familiar with the combination, thereby reducing the danger of theft or of the carrying away the umbrella by any one inadvertently.

The invention consists generally in various constructions and combinations, all as hereinafter described, and particularly pointed out in the claims.

In the accompanying drawings, forming part of this specification, Figures 1 and 2 are sectional views showing our improved locking device mounted on the stick of an umbrella. Fig. 3 is a similar view showing the parts in their locked position. Fig. 4 is a section on the line 111% of Fig. 2 looking in the direction of the arrow. Fig. 5 is a sectional view on the line 1 y of Fig. 1 looking in the direction of the arrow.

In the drawings, 2 represents the umbrella stick or rod, having a suitable handle 3 and provided with ribs 4, that are covered with cloth or silk in the usual way. This cover we have omitted for the sake of clearness of illustration. The ends of the ribs are provided with knobs 5, that are adapted to engage a ring 6, secured on the stick 2. A series of springs 7 are secured at one end on the stick and are free at their opposite ends, to be pressed in by an operating device, hereinafter described. WVe have shown three of these springs; but there may be a greater or less number, as preferred.

8 is a sleeve loosely mounted on the stick 2 and adapted to slide lengthwise thereof, lateral movement being prevented bya guidingrib 9. The inner end of the sleeve 8 is provided with a flange 10, that is adapted to slip over the knobs 5 and prevent their being sprung out and disengaged from the ring 6. An inwardly-projecting flange 11 is provided on the sleeve 8 and has a series of slots 12 to receive the free ends of the springs 7. Below the flange 11 and supported within the sleeve by pins 13 is a loosely-arranged ring 14, having a series of notches that are adapted to register with the notches in the flange 11, and when the runner has been moved to its locked position the free ends of the springs 7 will fly out under the ring 14 and prevent the sleeve from being returned to its unlocked position until the springs have again been pressed in to enter the slots 12.

Any suitable means may be provided for operating the springs; but we prefer to provide a series of pins 15, normally held in a retracted position away from said springs 7 by coil -springs 16. When these pins are pressed in by the fingers of the person having the umbrella, the free ends of the springs 7 will be disengaged from the ring 14, allowing the sleeve to be slipped back to its normal position.

To prevent any unauthorized person from using the umbrella, we provide a lug 17 in the ring 14, arranged to be engaged by the tapered end of a pin 18, that is normally retracted by a spring 19. l/Vhen this spring 18 is pressed in, its tapered end will engage the lug 17 and rotate the ring 14 slightly until the notches therein fail to register with the flange 11 and prevent the springs 7 from entering the notches and allowing the device to be unlocked. This pin 18 is similar to those provided for operating the springs 7, and it will be impossible for any one picking up the umbrella to determine which are the proper pins to press to unlock the ribs. If he presses the three pins for operating the springs 7, then the device can be readily disengaged from the ribs; but if he happens to press the pin 18 then the slots or notches for receiving the springs 7 will be partially closed by the partial rotation of the ring 14, and the operation of all or any of the other pins would not serve to unlock the device.

A keyhole 20 is provided in the wall of the sleeve, through which a key may be inserted to engage a lug 21 on the ring 14 to return it to its normal position coinciding with the slots 12 to allow the ends of the springs 7 to enter the said slots. A stop 22 is preferably provided in the wall of the sleeve to engage the lug 21 and limit the rotation of said ring.

The following is a brief description of the operation of our invention: To look the umbrella, it is only necessary to slide the sleeve along the stick until the heads or ends of the ribs are inclosed by the flange 10, which, cooperating with the ring 6, will prevent the outward movement of the ribs. As soon as the sleeve has been moved a suflicient distance to allow the free ends of the springs 7 to fly outward it will be locked and backward movement thereof prevented until the springs are again pressed in and slip into the notches 12. As heretofore stated, this can be readily accomplished if the proper pins are operated; but if instead of pressing on all the pins 15 the operator accidentally moves the pin 18 then the notches will be partially closed by the rotation-ring 14 and it would be impossible to unlock the device until said ring has been returned to its normal position. WVhen this has been done by the movement of a key, as described, the device can be unlocked by the manipulationpf the properpins.

The pins for operating the locking-springs may be designated by numerals or letters to permit the formation of diiferent combinations and make it more diflicult for any one unfamiliar with the device to unlock it.

We claim as our invention 1. The combination, with an umbrella-stick and the ribs secured thereon, of a sleevehaving an annular flange adapted to inclose the ends of said ribs, a plurality of springs mounted on said stick and adaptedto engage and hold said sleeve in its locked position, and means for tripping said springs to release said runner.

2. The combination, with an umbrella-stick and the ribs mounted thereon, of a sleeve slidably mounted on said stick and adapted to receive the ends of said ribs, a flange provided on said sleeve and having a series of notches, springs mounted on said stick and adapted to enter said notches, a ring having a series of notches arranged to normally coincide with those in said flange, said ring having aslight rotating movement, means for operating said ring, and means for operating said springs.

3. The combination, with an umbrella-rod and its ribs, of a sleeve slidably mounted thereon and adapted to engage and lock the free ends of said ribs, said sleeve having an in wardly-projecting flange provided with a series of notches, spring devices secured at one end on said rod and adapted to enter said notches and to fly out and engage said flange and prevent backward movement of said sleeve when in its locked position, means for tripping said spring devices, and means to prevent the unlocking of said sleeve, substantially as described.

4. The combination, with an umbrella-stick and the ribs thereon, of a sleeve slidably arranged on said stick and adapted to receive being provided with a series of notches at intervals, spring devices secured on said stick and having free ends arranged to enter said notches and spring out when below the same and lock said sleeve, a series of pins arranged to en age and trip said springs, a member provided in the path of said springs and arranged to prevent the entrance thereof into said notches, and a pin corresponding to said first-named pins for operating said member.

6. In a device of the.class described, a sliding sleeve having a flange provided with a series of notches, in combination with an umbrella-stick, and spring devices secured on said stick and adapted to enter said notches,

a rotating ring having notches normally co- EDWARD EKMAN. NILS H. G. PIHL.

In presence of RICHARD PAUL, M. HAGERTY. 

